"Get lost!" Lucian snarled as the hulking boy barreled toward him. Though the sheer physical power was impressive, Lucian wasn't intimidated. He quickly assessed the situation: this opponent's overwhelming strength came at the cost of control, with a clear lack of finesse or combat technique. While killing him outright might be a challenge, incapacitating or containing him would be trivial.
However, Lucian's focus wasn't solely on the brutish teen. His mind churned on the half-fae's cries: "The key!"
Lucian turned his gaze toward Carrie. The veil of disguise over her had crumbled, exposing her half-moon fae features in stark detail. And just moments earlier, her use of the bloodline ability Moon Veil had unmistakably confirmed her lineage.
But why would they call her a key? Was it tied to her bloodline? Lucian clenched his jaw. What had once been a boon for Carrie's growth now threatened to bring calamity to them both.
"The key!" The half-fae's cries grew louder, their previously coordinated attacks becoming more reckless. Eyes filled with fervour, they now fixated solely on Carrie. Even those engaged with Bennett and Lillia began gravitating toward her position, intent on capturing her at all costs.
The battlefield began to shift, with Lucian and Carrie at its chaotic centre.
"Carrie," Lucian said under his breath as he readied his spells, "stay close."
The hulking teen let out a guttural roar, spurred on by what was clearly a command. His massive frame lunged toward Lucian with single-minded determination.
Before the boy could reach him, Bennett intervened. A flick of his wrist sent a web of shimmering threads snaking out, entangling the teen and pinning him in place. But before Bennett could deliver a killing blow, an elderly half-fae intercepted him. Their clash sent shockwaves across the battlefield, forcing Bennett to shift focus.
Lillia, meanwhile, cradled the unnerving doll Edlyn in her arms, its presence alone casting an oppressive shadow over the battlefield. Half-fae eyes darted toward her, wariness plain in their expressions. The memory of Edlyn's power—capable of draining life essence—was fresh in their minds.
The elderly half-fae retreated cautiously, regrouping with their kin.
The remaining human apprentices huddled behind Lucian, their numbers drastically reduced. On the other side, the half-fae rallied under their leader—a woman with piercing blue eyes and an aura far beyond that of a third-rank apprentice.
The half-fae leader's gaze swept over Lucian's group, her focus landing on Carrie. "Hand over the girl," she commanded, her voice cold and imperious. "Do so, and we will grant you our friendship. Refuse, and none of you will leave here alive."
Lillia sneered, cradling Edlyn closer. "Try us," she spat, her lips curving into a dangerous grin.
The half-fae leader's eyes flicked to Edlyn, her confidence dimming for a moment. The doll's malevolent aura and Lillia's unhinged demeanor gave her pause. She could already feel the phantom grip of Edlyn's insidious power and knew well the cost of underestimating it.
But she couldn't afford to relent entirely. Her clan needed this battle to end in their favor, yet at a cost that wouldn't leave them crippled. The keys to the ruins of Cossay Island were too important to lose.
"Negotiation," the leader finally said, exhaling as she pulled her power back. Her voice softened, but her tone was no less resolute. "We're all here for the ruins. Without us, you can't open the way. And without you, we can't secure what lies inside. Cooperation is the only path forward."
Cooperation? Lucian's eyes narrowed as he exchanged glances with Bennett and Lillia. Though the ruins themselves didn't particularly intrigue him, Carrie had inadvertently become a linchpin in their exploration. If he intended to protect her, he would have to enter those ruins.
Bennett broke the silence. "Fine," he said, his tone measured. "But we demand one of the Purple Leaf Seals to ensure equal footing. With even one seal, you'd still control access to the ruins, but we'll have assurance you won't betray us at the first opportunity."
The half-fae leader hesitated for a moment before waving her hand. A purple glimmer streaked toward them, headed straight for their group.
Lillia moved to intercept it, but the seal bypassed her outstretched hand, veering toward Carrie instead. It hovered briefly before merging into her palm, forming a glowing purple imprint on her skin.
"Only those with fae blood can bond with the seal, fool," a nearby half-fae sneered at Lillia's failed attempt, their tone dripping with mockery.
Lillia's face darkened, her eyes narrowing into dangerous slits. Her grip tightened on Edlyn, and her breathing quickened. Anger simmered just beneath the surface as a malevolent voice whispered in her mind.
But she didn't act. Not yet. Instead, she fixed her cold gaze on Carrie, then on Lucian. Her fury etched their images deeply into her memory.
Though the immediate tension had lessened, the air between the two sides remained fraught. Lucian glanced down at Carrie's glowing seal. Whatever lay ahead, her safety now depended on their ability to navigate this uneasy alliance.